CHICAGO - Paced by a game-high 19 points from senior guard Candis Jackson (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young), the No. 9 ranked Saint Xavier University women's basketball team picked up a 76-55 win over Spring Arbor University (Mich.) in first round action of the 2006 SXU Christmas Tip-off Tournament Wednesday night at the Shannon Center in Chicago. The Cougars (13-1 overall) advance to Thursday's semifinals game against Culver-Stockton College (Mo.), which takes place at 7 p.m. at the Shannon Center.

The Cougars led 39-28 at halftime after helping to force Spring Arbor into 11 first-half turnovers. SXU kept up the defensive pressure in the second half holding SAU to just 35 percent shooting (10-for-29) from the field, including a 0-for-6 clip from beyond the three-point arc. Spring Arbor shot 0-for-7 from the three-point arc and committed 22 total turnovers in the game.

Saint Xavier (13-1 overall) continues play in its Christmas Tip-off Tournament on Thursday, December 28, with a semifinals match-up against Culver-Stockton College (Mo.). Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.